June 22, 2007	Friday	Jamadi-us-Sani 06, 1428

ISLAMABAD, June 21: Members of opposition parties in the National Assembly on Thursday expressed concern over law and order in the country in general and Sindh in particular.

They criticised the government for not taking action against those responsible for killing of more than 40 people in Karachi on May 12.

Speaking on a number of cut motions moved by them to seek reduction in the budgetary allocation for the Interior Ministry, the lawmakers belonging to the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) and the People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPP) said the Sindh government was responsible for increase in street crimes.

Some MMA members blamed the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) for the May 12 bloodshed in Karachi.

MMA’s Mohammad Hussain Mehnati accused MQM’s armed workers of firing on opposition rallies and said police in Karachi were being controlled by MQM’s ‘Nine Zero’ headquarters.

He said that the killing of student activists had become a routine in Karachi. He also criticised the performance of coast guards.

He said there was no use giving any money to the Rangers who always supported terrorists. He said: “We don’t need Rangers, please call them back from Karachi.”

MQM’s Kunwar Khalid Yunus protested over Mr Mehnati’s remarks and requested the speaker to expunge them. He alleged that people were being picked up in the NWFP which was being ruled by the MMA. He said the Jamaat-i-Islami was in the habit of attacking the MQM.

PPP’s Fauzia Wahab expressed concern over the increase in the incidents of street crimes in Karachi.Syed Zafar Ali Shah and Ijaz Jhakrani of the PPP criticised the government over the May 12 incident in Karachi.